Gigabyte GA-X48-DS5 - Bios backup checksum error

[sparsons]

Hi all,

This is my first Gigabyte board, and my first post. So I just want to say thanks in advance to everyone who is online and helping people out. I hope to give back someday, when I know a lot more about these things. Anyhow, here is what is happening (just watch the vid):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1-jURmpBuTk

So I've left a couple of things out. At first I just got into BIOS and checked it out. I was trying to find what speed the default memory was so I could set it to 1200. However I never made it that far w/o it freezing. Then I guess the BIOS got/was messed up because after a couple of POSTs to BIOS and the "normal screens" I started getting POSTs to the Dual Bios screen. That is when I read to reset CMOS, take it down to one stick of RAM, and then try and Flash your BIOS with Qflash. That is where I was when this video was made. I haven't done anything from here. Thanks all.

Sam

[sparsons]

Oh yeah, my system specs:

CASE ANTEC|NINE HUNDRED BK RT
MB GIGABYTE GA-X48-DS5 775 X48 RT
PSU OCZ|OCZ700MXSP 700W RT
CPU INTEL|C2Q Q9550 2.83 775 12M R
MEM 1Gx2|OCZ OCZ2FX12002GK R
HD 750G|WD SATA2 32M WD7500AADS CPUCOOLER|ARCTIC P4|ACFZ7-PRO R
DVD BURN LG|GH22LS30 22X LS SATA
HIS H489FT1GP Radeon HD 4890 1GB

[Psycho101]

The only time I have seen a CMOS checksum error is with a dead CMOS battery.

My old IBM R40e would kick up that message every time I powered up. I'd have to go into the BIOS and set the Date/Time, LCD settings etc then save and exit. Upon every fresh cold boot all BIOS settings would be lost.

I'd start by removing then re-seating the CMOS battery after first clearing the CMOS using the pins on the board. If that doesn't work, a replacement battery would be worth trying. You should be able to use one from another board if you have a spare, or if not any electronics shop should be able to get you one. It's just a standard Lithium button cell, so if you take the battery to them or write down the code number, they can give you the correct type.

[profJim]

Is your cpu heat-sink fully seated? Are all 4 push-pins connected?
If you have a floppy drive, you can try flashing your bios with a bootable floppy. See BIOS Flashing - A "How To ~ Qflash Guide" for more info.

Whenever I build a system, I always leave my mobo out of the case until everything is working properly and the operating system is installed.

Your best bet is to remove your mobo from the case, and set it up on a stack of books or cardboard box beside your computer case. You should try to get into the bios using a minimal mobo setup; cpu, heat-sink + fan, ps/2 keyboard, video card, and only 1 memory module.
See this post for additional information.

You might need to test by replacing and testing one component at a time: memory, video card, cpu, psu, etc. You might need to test using the stock Intel heat-sink and fan. Sometimes there is an incompatibility with a psu and mobo, even though your psu might work fine with another setup.

You might need to remove your cpu and inspect the mobo cpu socket for possible bent pins. Make sure that the socket and the bottom of your cpu are clean and that there aren't any particles or other debris on both surfaces.

Your initial goal is to enter the bios, load OPTIMIZED settings, and then save settings and exit. Immediately re-enter the bios and then make any needed bios changes. It might be best at this point to set your memory to run at 800MHz using 1.80 - 2.00 volts. To use both memory modules, you should set (G) MCH OverVoltage to control to +0.1 or +0.2.

If you're able to get into the bios, use the generic bios template to fill in your bios settings. Click on the last line in my signature to get the bios template for your mobo.

Good luck.

[Lsdmeasap]

Your "Pushing on the heatsink" makes me wonder about this as mentioned above. Are you sure it is fully secured? Have you tried the stock Intel heatsink? I ask that because lately I have seen a few heatsinks/backplates that have been known to cause shorts either with components on the front side of the board or back.

So can you try the Intel Heatsink out just to be sure your heatsink it not causing an issue? And while you are at it, keep your motherboard out of the case and off the motherboard tray, this will eliminate any case shorts as part of the issue.

If the Intel heatsink does not help things lets try the bare minimum as mentioned above. Please put your old heatsink back on and with the board out of the case and off the tray (Set on Box or Wooden table) and try to start the system with the minimal parts CPU/Heatsink, one stick of ram and your GFX only. Nothing else, this will rule out a bad hard drive or CD Drive, fans, ect causing it to not post.

Also, if you do have any other normal DDR2 to test with please do, to rule out your memory as part of the issue as well.

[sparsons]

I THINK it works!!!!!

All,

Hello and thank you all so much for your help during this process. So, as I stated in my original post, yes, I am a noobXtreme. I am okay with this, because we all need to start somewhere. I am right there at the start. This is my Third computer build from scratch and it's a hobby that I am really beginning to love.

Thanks to you guys (namely profJ) for getting me to take this Mobo out of the case and start tinkering with it. I pulled the heatsink off, tried to install the intel one, but it was freaking impossible, so I just reinstalled my old one as well as I could. Then I tried to start up my rig again. Same problem. It ran for a little bit and froze. So I was dissapointed, but then I realized (and here is where you'll realize my noobXtreme-ness) that I've been trying the same RAM stick the whole time. I switched sticks and Viola, she is running for extended periods of time now. SO, my problem could still have been twofold - I could have had the heatsink on wrong and had a bad stick of RAM in, but based on the way the performance was I am going to say it was the RAM all along. I am going to call OCZ tomorrow and get them to replace my RAM. Thanks you guys so much I really appreciate it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I hope this contributes to the forum in some way. All others: If you are getting this error and a looping reset, check your RAM! Make sure it hasn't gone bad/is bad.

Thanks again!

Sam




P.S. if you have any questions about cameras or camera gear hit me up. I am the manager of a camera shop and I can help YOU with THAT! :)

[profJim]

Glad to see that you're making progress.
Your memory problem might be caused by one module that wasn't fully seated in the memory slot. This might explain why pressing down on the top of your cpu heat sink seemed to help a bit.

Hang around and read various threads and you'll quickly learn about potential issues when building and tweaking a system.
Let us know how you make out with your new system.

[Lsdmeasap]

Sorry to hear about your faulty ram module, but nice to see you found the issue!!

Post back anytime if you need further help with things!